Ben Carson's campaign manager, spokesman quit GOP campaign

In this Dec. 23, 2015 file photo, Republican presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson speaks in his home in Upperco, Md. Two of Carson’s top paid advisers are leaving the campaign with only a month to go before Iowa’s leadoff caucuses. That’s according to Carson’s Iowa director, Ryan Rhodes. He says Carson campaign manager Barry Bennett and senior campaign spokesman Doug Watts are “out” as of Thursday. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

Published December 31. 2015 1:58PM

Bill Barrow, Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa — The campaign manager for Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson says he and another top aide have resigned.

Barry Bennett says he and communications director Doug Watts left the campaign on Thursday morning.

Bennett says he left because of mounting frustration that Carson was listening more to his longtime business manager, Armstrong Williams, and not the advice of his paid campaign staff.

Bennett's decision comes a week after Carson told The Associated Press in an interview that he was considering a major staff shakeup, only to walk back those comments hours later.

Williams had arranged that interview without Bennett's knowledge, and Bennett says that was evidence that Williams would continue to undermine the campaign's leadership team.